👋 Welcome to the New Jersey Segment of Your I-95 Culinary Journey!
👋 Welcome to the New Jersey Segment of Your I-95 Culinary Journey!
As you traverse the Garden State, whether you’re cruising the central corridor or peeling off toward the iconic Jersey Shore, you’ll find a world of unique regional specialties. This isn’t just about fast food; New Jersey offers the ultimate road trip fare, featuring authentic diners, world-famous boardwalk treats, and coastal seafood joints that make for perfect “SoFloDining Approved” pit stops.
We believe that road trip meals should be a chance to slow down, enjoy local flavor, and savor the state’s distinct character. Our recommendations focus on dining experiences with convenient interstate access, offering you a true taste of New Jersey’s rich culinary traditions.
As you traverse the Garden State, whether you’re cruising the central corridor or peeling off toward the iconic Jersey Shore, you’ll find a world of unique regional specialties. This isn’t just about fast food; New Jersey offers the ultimate road trip fare, featuring authentic diners, world-famous boardwalk treats, and coastal seafood joints that make for perfect “SoFloDining Approved” pit stops.
We believe that road trip meals should be a chance to slow down, enjoy local flavor, and savor the state’s distinct character. Our recommendations focus on dining experiences with convenient interstate access, offering you a true taste of New Jersey’s rich culinary traditions.
Knife and Fork Inn – 3600 Atlantic Avenue, Atlantic City, N.J.: built in nineteen-eleven by the Harker brothers-rumrunners slipped booze through the basement during Prohibition. Dark wood, cigar scent still hanging. We sat at a corner table; I had the chicken Milanese with peppery arugula, Mom the fried flounder, and Doris the K and F combo-bisque-dunked grilled cheese. History on every plate. Handcrafted drinks. www.kfnj.com
Captain’s Inn – 304 E. Lacey Road, Forked River, N.J.: low-tide smell, boats clanking in slips. Accompanied by Rocco and Ed, we tore into prime rib, wasabi tuna, Asian seared salmon, lobster-shrimp-crab bake, Greek salad, and a seafood bouillabaisse you could eat with a spoon. www.captainsinnnj.com
Chart House – 644 Huron Avenue, Atlantic City, N.J.: happy hour specials on the marina-facing window table, Arlene and Mom right there with us, boats rocking below. We crushed kimchi kalamari, burger and rib sliders, crab cakes, surf-and-turf tacos on the happy hour menu. What views! What value! “Deserves a repeat visit, ‘da sooner, ‘da better”, to quote Doris WithaD! www.chart-house.com
Copper Dog – 4400 Atlantic Avenue, Wildwood, N.J.: enjoying the boardwalk hum, fryer roar. Accompanied by Aunt Linda, we shared lobster grilled cheese on sourdough with tomato bisque, chicken salad croissant. www.thecopperdog.com
Pete and Elda’s – 96 Woodland Avenue, Neptune, N.J.: neon crab claw, clam bites, crunch. Accompanied by Leroy, Ed, and Steven, we shared Hawaiian, pepperoni, plain, and shrimp pizzas, and steak sandwiches. www.peatandelda.com
Fortune Buffet – 1311 Route 37 West, Toms River, N.J.: conveyor trays steaming, shrimp piled like snowdrifts. Mom and Arlene come every week-literally. Mom loaded two plates of peel-and-eat shrimp while we picked at the Chinese classics, but honestly? We all left stuffed. www.fortunebuffettomsriver.com
Columbus Farmers Market – 2919 Route 206 Columbus, N.J.: an Amish market-everything steaming fresh. We went with Mom and Aunt Linda, grabbed ribs, brisket, sausage, ham, then hit the bakery-oh, the bakery-cinnamon knots, sticky buns, still warm. www.columbusfarmersmarket.com
Cheesesteak Louie’s – 22 Boulevard, Seaside Heights, N.J.: classic Jersey Shore-seagulls yelling, salt in the air, boardwalk planks underfoot. Joined by Mom and Arlene, we ordered the Louie Original, extra cheese, extra grease, no regrets. www.cheesesteaklouies.com
Three Brothers – Atlantic City Boardwalk, just the boardwalk at midnight: thin-crust, grease-soaked, classic Jersey Shore pizza. No visit would be complete without a slice of Three Brothers-plain or pepperoni-folded in half and chased by salt air. www.threebrotherspizza.com